Namco System 22
Encyclopedia
The Namco System 22 is the successor to the Namco System 21
arcade system board
co-designed with the assistance of graphics & simulation experts Evans & Sutherland
. It was first released in 1993 with the game Ridge Racer
. It was essentially a continuation of the System 21 hardware design, where the main CPU provides a scene description to a bank of DSP
chips which perform all necessary 3D calculations. Additional graphical improvements included texture mapping
, Gouraud shading
, transparency effects, and depth cueing thanks to the Evans & Sutherland
'TR3' chip/chipset,
which stands for:
Texture Mapping,
Real-Time,
Real-Visual,
Rendering System.
A variant of the system, called the Super System 22, was released in 1995. The hardware was largely similar to the System 22, but with a slightly higher polygon
rate and more special effects possible.
Both Super System 22 and System 22 can render significantly better graphics, more polygons with sharper texture-mapping, running in higher resolution and at a higher framerate compared to the graphics capabilities of the original Sony PlayStation, the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64 video game systems, but much less than what the Sega Dreamcast can produce.
According to Namco America the twin seat Ridge Racer arcade unit sold to distribution for $11,995.00 in 1993.
Namco System 21
The Namco System 21 "Polygonizer" is an arcade system board unveiled by Namco in 1988 with the game Winning Run. It was the first arcade board specifically designed for polygon processing...
arcade system board
Arcade system board
An arcade system board is a dedicated computer system created for the purpose of running video arcade games. Arcade system boards typically consist of a main system board with any number of supporting boards...
co-designed with the assistance of graphics & simulation experts Evans & Sutherland
Evans & Sutherland
Evans & Sutherland is a computer firm involved in the computer graphics field. Their products are used primarily by the military and large industrial firms for training and simulation, and in digital projection environments like planetariums.-History:...
. It was first released in 1993 with the game Ridge Racer
Ridge Racer
Ridge Racer may refer to:*Ridge Racer , an arcade game first released by Namco in 1993, later ported to the PlayStation*Ridge Racer , a series of sequels and spin-offs based on the arcade game...
. It was essentially a continuation of the System 21 hardware design, where the main CPU provides a scene description to a bank of DSP
Digital signal processor
A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...
chips which perform all necessary 3D calculations. Additional graphical improvements included texture mapping
Texture mapping
Texture mapping is a method for adding detail, surface texture , or color to a computer-generated graphic or 3D model. Its application to 3D graphics was pioneered by Dr Edwin Catmull in his Ph.D. thesis of 1974.-Texture mapping:...
, Gouraud shading
Gouraud shading
Gouraud shading, named after Henri Gouraud, is an interpolation method used in computer graphics to produce continuous shading of surfaces represented by polygon meshes...
, transparency effects, and depth cueing thanks to the Evans & Sutherland
Evans & Sutherland
Evans & Sutherland is a computer firm involved in the computer graphics field. Their products are used primarily by the military and large industrial firms for training and simulation, and in digital projection environments like planetariums.-History:...
'TR3' chip/chipset,
which stands for:
Texture Mapping,
Real-Time,
Real-Visual,
Rendering System.
A variant of the system, called the Super System 22, was released in 1995. The hardware was largely similar to the System 22, but with a slightly higher polygon
Polygon
In geometry a polygon is a flat shape consisting of straight lines that are joined to form a closed chain orcircuit.A polygon is traditionally a plane figure that is bounded by a closed path, composed of a finite sequence of straight line segments...
rate and more special effects possible.
Both Super System 22 and System 22 can render significantly better graphics, more polygons with sharper texture-mapping, running in higher resolution and at a higher framerate compared to the graphics capabilities of the original Sony PlayStation, the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64 video game systems, but much less than what the Sega Dreamcast can produce.
According to Namco America the twin seat Ridge Racer arcade unit sold to distribution for $11,995.00 in 1993.
System 22 Specifications
- Main CPUCentral processing unitThe central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
: MotorolaMotorolaMotorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
68020 32-bit32-bitThe range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable memory....
@ 24.576 MHz - DSPDigital signal processorA digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...
: 2x Texas InstrumentsTexas InstrumentsTexas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
TMS32025 @ 49.152 MHz (exact number of DSPs may vary) - Sound CPU: MitsubishiMitsubishiThe Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
M37702 (System 22 Games) or M37710 (Super System 22 Games) @ 16.384 MHz - Sound Chip: NamcoNamcois a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
C352 - + NamcoNamcois a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
Custom Chips
List of System 22 Games
- Ace DriverAce DriverAce Driver is a 3D racing arcade game released by Namco in 1994.The player can choose between Automatic or Manual gear, and Beginner or Expert Class.The cars are:*Team Red Lightning *Scuderia Blue Castle...
(1994) - Ace Driver: Victory LapAce Driver: Victory LapAce Driver: Victory Lap Not Ace Driver 2: Victory Lap is a 3D racing arcade game released by Namco in 1996, featuring more tracks and Formula One cars than the predecessor: Ace Driver, in a modern futuristic setting.-External links:* at...
(1995) - Cyber Commando (1994)
- Rave RacerRave RacerRave Racer is a racing game created by Namco. It was released on July 16, 1995 for the Namco System 22 arcade platform. It is the third arcade title in the Ridge Racer series.-Cars:*Car #1: R.T. Derota*Car #2: R.T. Steel Gunner...
(1995) - Ridge RacerRidge RacerRidge Racer may refer to:*Ridge Racer , an arcade game first released by Namco in 1993, later ported to the PlayStation*Ridge Racer , a series of sequels and spin-offs based on the arcade game...
(1993) - Ridge Racer 2Ridge Racer 2This article is about the classic game. For the modern game for PSP, see Ridge Racer 2 is a racing game created by Namco. It was released in Japan in 1994 for the Namco System 22 arcade platform. It is the second title in the Ridge Racer series.More of an upgrade than a complete sequel, Ridge...
(1994)
List of Super System 22 Games
- Air Combat 22Air Combat 22Air Combat 22 is an arcade game released by Namco in 1995 and the sequel to Air Combat in the Ace Combat series. It was named Air Combat "22" because it runs on Namco's Super System 22 hardware...
(1995) - Alpine RacerAlpine RacerAlpine Racer is a 3D Alpine skiing arcade game released by Namco in 1995. It features downhill and gate with three courses and two play modes - Race and Time Attack. The player stands on a set of ski-like foot stands while holding onto two bars for stability to play.-Series:*1. Alpine Racer *2....
(1994) - Alpine Racer 2Alpine Racer 2Alpine Racer 2 is a 3D Alpine skiing arcade game released by Namco in 1996. It is the sequel to Alpine Racer.-Sleep Research:Alpine Racer 2, along with Tetris, was used by Harvard sleep scientist Robert Stickgold to study the relationship between learning and sleep...
(1996) - Alpine Surfer (1996)
- Aqua Jet (1996)
- Armadillo Racing (1997)
- Cyber Cycles (1995)
- Dirt Dash (1995)
- Prop Cycle (1996)
- Time CrisisTime CrisisTime Crisis is a light gun shooter arcade game produced by Namco in 1995 and released in early 1996. It was later ported for the PlayStation in 1997, bundled with the G-Con 45 controller.-Gameplay:...
(1995) - Tokyo WarsTokyo Warsis a first-person action video game developed and published by Namco for the arcade.This game allows one to eight players to control separate tanks . The player can play either in the heart of downtown Tokyo or at the city's bayside dock. However, the players have twenty seconds to make all the...
(1995)